January slump? There's no such thing in Swiss ice hockey. Because in January, the clubs - at least some of them - enter the final straight in the battle for the play-off places. And this year, the situation promises to be very exciting.
It is particularly noteworthy that the ZSC Lions are involved in the battle this season, a team that in previous years knew the qualifiers (in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Lions even won the qualifiers) primarily as preparation for the playoffs.
Of course, if everything goes normally, the Zurich team should qualify for the playoffs again this year. But the situation is deceptive: one series of defeats is enough and the growing nervousness - especially towards the end of the qualifiers - can lead to a veritable blockade. In a competitive sport like ice hockey, you can't win any more points.
Servette - like ZSC, a regular in the play-offs - is also still a relatively solid distance away from the drop zone. But here, too, caution is advised: Only a strong December (9 games, 23 points) recently lifted Geneva into the top eight in the table.
Then the air becomes increasingly thin. Fribourg, Lausanne and the SCL Tigers are fighting for one remaining playoff spot. There is little separating the three clubs, both in terms of points and performance. The Tigers were able to make up ground on the bottom line in January - mainly thanks to the strong Damiano Ciaccio in goal.
The duel between Fribourg and Lausanne is particularly explosive. The two will meet three more times, for the third time in the very last game of the 2017/2018 qualifiers. It's quite possible that the two traditional clubs will still be fighting for the playoffs right up to the last puck drop.
FRIBOURG GOTTÉRON vs. LAUSANNE HC
Tue January 30, 2018, BCF Arena Fribourg
Mon March 5, 2018, BCF-Arena Fribourg
TICKETS
LAUSANNE HC vs. FRIBOURG GOTTÉRON
Sat March 03, 2018, Patinoire de Malley Prilly
TICKETS
